March 01, 2010

I thought I told you that we won't stop

Frank Klopas introduces Carlos de los Cobos as the new head coach of the Fire at a press conference at Toyota Park Jan. 11. (Tribune photo by Chuck Berman)

The following piece is for all the people who still care what I have to say about soccer. I hope all six of you enjoy it:

I know barely anything about the new Fire coach, Carlos de los Cobos, which in my opinion is a good thing. I’m tired of MLS teams recycling coaches the way TNA recycles old WWE wrestlers. This hire makes me feel like the Fire actually did some research this time around.

I want to believe Carlos when he says the Fire will be playing attractive soccer, but every coach says that during their first press conference. It's the equivalent of a girl telling you there are no strings attached. It sounds good, but few keep their word.

Even though Mr. White is gone (for now), I’m hearing Fire ticket sales are up this season. Didn’t see that one coming.

Speaking of things I didn’t see coming, I was wrong when I predicted Brian McBride would retire at the end of last season .

On the other hand, I was right when I predicted the Fire wouldn’t sign a designated player during the offseason.

I follow Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore on Twitter. Are there any other soccer players not named Brian Ching worth following?

While I don't think Marco Pappa will lead the Fire in goals -- that honor will likely go to Brian McBride -- I do think he'll be the funnest player to watch. I'm relieved the Fire didn't let him go.

No seriously, Nike, what do the new U.S. jerseys look like?

The bad news is I won’t be covering the World Cup this summer (the Los Angeles Times’ Grahame Jones will be handling the coverage for us). The good news is I don't have to worry about developing another tick due to lack of sleep.

While we’re on the subject of the World Cup, let me apologize in advance to anybody who will be watching the games with me. Prepare for name-dropping, repetitive stories about the last World Cup and constant whining about how I could have been in South Africa.

Coincidentally, Bobby Convey has been telling his friends the same thing.

I told an ex-Fire player that I’m still right here blogging about soccer and he gladly accepted my invitation to guest blog. Look for that blog entry this week.

Fire trivia fact: Did you know Justin Mapp is eight years younger than Jon Busch but has been in MLS just as long as the Fire goalkeeper (8 seasons)?

You can expect an all-day blog from me the Friday before the Fire’s season opener IF I don’t have an assignment that afternoon. Keep your fingers crossed that Vince Vaughn doesn’t choke on a hot dog that day.

And lastly, I know I’m pretty late on this, but congratulations to John Trask on his new job as the head coach of Wisconsin. It’s sad to see him leave a UIC program he turned around, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thrilled he’ll be coaching my Badgers. On Wisconsin.

Posted at 12:04:13 PM

Comments

Baky guest blog? Nice! Liking the new banner, maybe because it's not an awkward picture of you.

Even though you haven't posted on Red Card in almost 3 months, I still check it everyday at work. I really miss Red Card.
That was a pretty funny comment on Bobby Convey, remember everyone all up in arms cause Arena wouldn't start Convey over Beasley during the last World Cup. Seems a lot longer than 4 years ago.
Did I mention I miss Red Card?
And I like the new banner, it's ghetto-fabulous.
I'm excited about de los Cobos too. Even though who knows when the season will start with the CBA negotiations going on.
I'm surprised your not covering the World Cup. I imagine there will be plenty of celebrity angles to cover in South Africa, at least football-mad celebrities who are well known in the States. I guess the Jersey Shore people have some more guest appearances at uber-trendy, d-bag infested Chiago clubs that they plan on blowing off at the last second.

Taylor Twellman has a twitter account. He hasn't come right out and admitted that him and Matt Reis are an item, but I have faith that when the time is right, he will use his twitter powers to communicate their relationship to the world.

Luis, I didn't realize you were back. Very cool! The guest blog is always great. I just bought Soccernomics and just started reading it. Have you read the book? How come no soccer players on Dancing with the Stars?

I follow sam stejskal regularly and he's got lots of fire stuff up - and gets lots of access to the club because he's got players, coaches and staff quoted all the time...if by "muzzle" you mean "access" then I guess you are correct. I'm pleasantly surprised that the Fire's been getting as much coverage as they have over the last few weeks during preseason - that's a good thing in my book.

About Luis

I never heard my dad talk about sports at the dinner table while growing up. In fact, it took Michael Jordan three championships for my Dad to stop mixing him up with Michael Jackson.

But I owe my passion for soccer, as well as my hard-to-pronounce last name, to my dad (it's pronounced R. O. Yah Veh, by the way). He insisted on raising my brother, sister, and me with his and my mom's Colombian culture. With that came soccer.

That's not to say I didn't follow other sports. Dan Marino, after all, was my childhood hero. But soccer gave me a connection with my roots that I rarely had growing up in Highland Park, Ill.

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in English and got my first break when I landed an internship with men's magazine, FHM. Exactly one year later, I joined the Tribune in September of 2005.